SPL: Celtic see off newcomers St Mirren

GLASGOW, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Champions Celtic beat promoted St Mirren 2-0 in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday with a goal in each half.

Captain Stephen McManus headed the opener in the 28th minute
and Bulgarian midfielder Stilian Petrov grabbed the second to
secure the points.

The victory put Celtic on six points from three games but
they were soon overtaken by Hearts and Falkirk who played out a
0-0 draw.

They both have seven points but Hearts are top on goal
difference. St Mirren, who had won their first two matches, slip
to fourth.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told BBC Radio Scotland: 'I
was happy with some of the football but after going 1-0 up we
lost our shape in terms of attack that we needed to rectify.

'So, there are little things to work on and we will get that
right.'

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon blamed his team's lacklustre
show on tiredness following their 2-1 Champions League third
round qualifier defeat in midweek by AEK Athens.

'We played for half an hour with 10 men on Wednesday (after
a man was sent off) and it took it out of the legs,' he said.

Elsewhere, Aberdeen won 2-0 at Motherwell with a double from
Darren Mackie and Kilmarnock drew 0-0 at home to 10-man Dundee
United who had Lee Miller sent off. Inverness Caledonian Thistle
also drew 0-0, at home to Hibernian.

Rangers, who have four points from two games. are away to
Dunfermline Athletic on Sunday.